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Individuals of many cultures, nationalities, religions, and beliefs are actively involved with Initiatives of Change. These commentaries represent the views of the writer and not necessarily those of Initiatives of Change as a whole. If you would like to contribute a commentary, please email us. We welcome feedback that contributes to the stated aim of this website which is to build relationships of trust across the world's divides. The editors reserve the right to refuse contributions that use intemperate language or vilify others and which do not in our view encourage productive dialogue.

Ken Noble from England recently visited the United States for the first time in 25 years. 'I am conscious that there is a lot of history between the two nations – some good and some not so good. A sense of history is important. It defines to a large extent who we are today. When we forget our place in history, we can easily be unreal about ourselves.'

At his treason trial 50 years ago Nelson Mandela told the court, ‘During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an idea which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.’

The recent terrorist attack in Nairobi poses the same riddle as 9/11: what did the terrorists want to achieve? No positive answer comes to mind. Antoine Jaulmes writes about the futility of violence and challenges policy makers to look at better ways of investing in security.

A month after the massacres of Rabaa and Al Nahda in Egypt, Nagia Abdelmoghney Said calls for a process of truth and reconciliation to heal the wounds, drawing inspiration from Britain's Coventry Cathedral.